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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
House: TI DP 7-0-0-0 |
HB2601: Interstate 11; environmental; engineering; study
Sponsor: Representative Gress, LD 4
Caucus & COW
Overview
Requires the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to request from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for segmentation of the Insterstate-11 (I-11) project between the border between this state and Neveda and Casa Grande. Instructs ADOT with conducting, after federal approval of segmentation, any tier two environmental and engineering study required for construction of the I-11.
History
In November 2021, ADOT published the completion of a tier one environmental impact statement (EIS) and record of decision for the 280-mile I-11 study corridor, from Nogales to Wickenburg, in November 2021. For I-11 to advance as a construction project, further steps are required, including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) approval, identifying funding and conducting specific, project-level Tier 2 NEPA studies of priority corridor segments. During the tier two process, the selected corridor alternative would be narrowed to a maximum 400-foot-wide highway alignment, or route. Based on need and purpose, these segments would focus on smaller and shorter sections of I-11 and not the entire 280-mile corridor. Currently there are no plans or funding available to initiate these tier two studies.
A lawsuit has been filed in federal court challenging FHWA's tier one approvals, primarily alleging violations of NEPA and federal regulation on protections for lands, wildlife, waterfowl refuges and historic sites (49 U.S.C. § 303). On January 22, 2025, the parties filed a joint stipulation and the court stayed the case while FHWA and ADOT conduct a re-evaluation. FHWA and ADOT agreed not to publish a notice of intent for tier two EISs while the reevaluation is underway.
Provisions
1. Tasks ADOT with formally requesting, not later than 14 days after the effective date, from the FHWA for segmentation of the I-11 project between the border between this state and Nevada and Casa Grande. (Sec. 1)
2. Directs ADOT with conducting, not later than three months after federal approval of segmentation, any tier 2 environmental and engineering study required for construction of I-11. (Sec. 1)
3. Contains legislative findings. (Sec. 2)
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7. Initials LM HB 2601
8. 1/21/2026 Page 0 Caucus & COW
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